Kelli Michelle DeWitt (née Hutchinson) passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on January 24, 2026.

She was born on June 16, 1962, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Patricia McQuern (née Armstrong; formerly Hutchinson) and John Michael Hutchinson. Her parents later remarried — her mother to Gerald McQuern and her father to Gail Hutchinson. She was a beloved and proud older sister to Michael (Danielle) Hutchinson and John (Dana) Hutchinson. Kelli attended Battle Creek Lakeview High School and later graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Real Estate Finance.
In 1989, Kelli married the love of her life, Michael DeWitt. Together they built an incredible life as true partners and best friends. She was a devoted mother to her two daughters, Alexandra (Christian Estrada) DeWitt and MacKenzie (Joshua) Flint, who were the center of her world. Becoming “Grammy” brought her immense joy, and she cherished every moment spent with her grandson, Isaac Michael Estrada, born August 31, 2025.

Kelli worked incredibly hard throughout her life, building a successful career spanning more than 40 years in the mortgage industry, including time spent as an adjunct professor of finance. Tireless in all she did, she poured herself into her career and serving the Kalamazoo community but never missed her daughters’ academic or athletic events… laptop often in tow. After retiring in 2023, she and Mike spent winters in The Villages, Florida, where Kelli quickly formed friendships and built community wherever she went.

What people will remember most about Kelli is her generosity: of time, energy, and heart. She had a rare ability to make everyone feel valued and special; people were drawn to her openness and warmth, as well as to her loud, distinctive laugh. She was wonderfully fun and unpredictable, always keeping people on their toes. Everyone who knew her has at least one outrageous or endearing story to share, each one a reminder of just how unforgettable she was.

Kelli loved skiing, pickleball, platform tennis, art fairs, live music, reading, traveling, board and card games, and never passed up a chance to get ice cream. She also loved bright colors and had a gift for discovering eclectic art that somehow always worked perfectly in her home. Impulsive in the best way, she was never afraid to grab a can of bold paint and reinvent a corner of the house on a weekend… usually while Mike was out of town.

Most of all, Kelli loved spending time with her family and friends: from beach days in South Haven driving up and down the coast in her sky blue ’79 VW Beetle convertible, to relaxing and enjoying the sun in Cabo, to skiing (and trying, but failing, to snowboard) out West, to game nights where she occasionally made up her own rules.

Kelli’s legacy lives on in the people who loved her and the countless lives she has touched. She lived fully, loved deeply, and will be missed more than words can say.